21st Century Ska (Skanking Ska & 2-Tone Rhythms Meets Beats Breaks & Basslines In A 21st Century Stylee) - Various Artists

Advantages: Effortlessly cool, great tunes, danceable
Disadvantages: Too many cooks spoil the broth? A couple of weak links

...'real life', with Stefani being followed around by four 'Harajuku Girls' wherever she goes, four omnipresent hand-maidens, backing singers, dancers, whatever you want to call them. Eve pops up on the Dre-produced 'Rich Girl', a re-write of 'If I Were A Rich Man' from 'Fiddler On The Roof'. The song has great bounce and propulsion, a manifesto to urban bling-bling and material gain. A 'Material Girl' for the 21st century, perhaps. The Neptunes-produced 'Hollaback Girl' has the potential to be irritating and repetitive, but Stefani just about pulls it from the brink. It also contains some of the most absurd lyrics on the album: "Let me hear you say, this shit is bananas/B-A-N-A-N-A-S/This shit is bananas/B-A-N-A-N-A-S". Bob Dylan it ain't, but that's not the point. 'Cool' has exactly the right title, a wonderful little song that draws from... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: CD2 big hits of the 21st C / CD1 forgotten best's of the 90's
Disadvantages: some 'anthems' not included, some shouldnt be included - & no BLUR

...My lovely sister brought this album for me for Christmas apparently her partner's choice; 'get this one, this is so Donna' spot on i say; great album. It is a great album, one that i would personally see in the shop and buy, but having said that i am more drawn to the tracks on CD1, however that tends to be typical of my compilation listening habits, I'm usually drawn to one CD more than the other, or I'll go through stages of listening to one of the CD'S then when bored I'll listen to the other one until boredom prevails! It is quite a full and varied compilation CD, 21 tracks on each CD, mainly dedicated to to 2003 to 2006 but many tracks from the 90's, even one from 1989 has escaped onto the album! CD ONE contains tracks from the 21st century, mainly 2006. My personal favourites of CD ONE are; THE AUTOMATIC monster (my... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Bold, Inventive, Brilliantly Produced
Disadvantages: None

...Tim Booth. Got the gist? Right, here goes; Kicking off “Pleased To Meet You” is the blissful “Space” – a track that possesses all the usual Brian Eno production trademarks (icy atmospherics, tinkered-with-vocals and general otherworldliness). Musically the track starts off distant and aloof before the beat and guitars arrive. The curious thing about “Space”, is that despite its 21st century dance/rock crossover feel it contains a folky chorus and some highly emotive and sincere sounding close-to-fade vocals. Three-quarters the way through the track a fairly raucous guitar-kicks in and seemingly carries Tim Booth through to the finish line. As an opening track “Space” is as good as anything you’ll hear. It contains all the vital ingredients an album needs to draw you in…accessibility, energy, oddness, depth and (re)playability. Track... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful